Omari Hutchinson opts to battle for place in England squad over Jamaica call-up
No one could say that Omari Hutchinson hastily made up his mind about where to direct his international goals.
In the last year, there have been several discussions with Jamaica, urging him to dedicate himself entirely to their team. Meanwhile, individuals connected to the England Under-21 setup have been working to encourage him to come back to the England team. One of those supporters is Michael Johnson, a former Jamaica international, who is currently on the England Under-21s coaching staff.
Hutchinson made his official debut for Jamaica's senior national team in two friendly matches against Trinidad & Tobago last year. Before that, he had played for England's under-17 and under-19 teams.
His impressive performances while on loan at Ipswich Town in the 2023-24 season, where he netted 10 goals in the Championship and provided six assists to aid their promotion to the Premier League, heightened the competition for his signature.
This decision wasn't made lightly. Hutchinson truly loved representing Jamaica. During a family vacation there last summer, he heard from the locals just how much they would value his contribution to their national team. Additionally, the likelihood of being selected to play for Jamaica is significantly higher than for England because of the stark contrast in the depth of talent available.
Hutchinson steps onto the field for Chelsea during the match against Manchester City in 2023 (Darren Walsh/Getty Images)
However, Hutchinson, who set a record for Ipswich when he signed a permanent deal from Chelsea for £20 million ($26 million), with an additional £2.5 million in performance-related bonuses in June, has decided to represent England due to their real prospects of winning significant trophies. The substantial investment in the sport has led to top-notch facilities in England, creating an ideal setting for development and growth.
At just 20 years old, Hutchinson recognizes the wealth of talent available in England's attacking midfield roles, but he's eager to make his mark. He isn't shy about aiming high. In an interview with The Athletic last year, he mentioned that one of his goals is to secure a Champions League title.
Hutchinson decided on the matter only during the summer. In March, he declined invitations from both organizations as he wanted to focus on assisting Ipswich in their bid for promotion from the Championship.
After being named Jamaica's new head coach in late July, Steve McClaren contacted Hutchinson in an effort to persuade him, but it didn't work out. McClaren expressed that he respected Hutchinson's choice.
It's a plus that Hutchinson is already familiar with several players from the England Under-21 team. He received his first call-up last month and attended the training camp, even though he had a slight injury that forced him to leave after a couple of days.
However, the journey confirmed for Hutchinson that he was on the right path. It offered him the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends and engage in a constructive discussion with interim head coach Ben Futcher.
The latter took on the position after Lee Carsley was appointed as the interim head coach for the senior team in August. Carsley, who has a strong possibility of being offered the job on a permanent basis, holds Hutchinson in high regard.
While there's no certainty about what will happen in the future, the strong commitment shown by England reflects positively on Hutchinson's skills.
(Main image: Adam Davy/PA Images through Getty Images)
Since 2000, Simon Johnson has dedicated most of his career to sports journalism, focusing on Chelsea FC. He started with Hayters and later worked for the London Evening Standard, attending every home and away match as the club clinched the Champions League title in 2012. Additionally, he covered the England national team from 2008 to 2019 and has been a frequent voice on talkSPORT radio for more than ten years. You can find Simon on Twitter at @SJohnsonSport.
